What Is Happening Between Subaru and Toyota? Subaru's Chief Says No To Convertible

If you ever wanted to see a case of mixed messages in the automotive world, let us introduce you to the mess with Toyota and Subaru over the GT86 Convertible. Automotive News spoke with Subaru brand chief Yasuyuki Yoshinaga and asked about GT86/BRZ Convertible. Yoshinaga dismissed the notion of convertible, citing the vehicles would need a redesign of the structure for that to happen.

"We make the car, so if we don't make it, it can't happen. Our engineering department told me that losing the entire roof requires a complete redesign of the structure. It would need a big change."

This kind of plays into a rumorpile story from last month where the GT86 Convertible project was canned for the time-being, possibly due to the model needing a lot reinforcing, thus adding weight and ruining the perfect weight balance.

Yet, Toyota is still showing off GT86 Convertible concept and creating a number of variations to show off at auto shows. Also consider the comment made by Toyota Europe President Didier Leroy made back in March when the GT86 Open concept was introduced,

"I know you are all wondering about facts and figures, and body rigidity. Well, we have the same worries and Tada [chief engineer of the GT 86] and his team are deep into analysis. But GT86 was designed from the start as a cabriolet… That probably tells you all you needed to know."

Someone apparently didn't tell Subaru or the two automakers disagree on the convertible idea.

"I understand well that Toyota is receiving strong requests from the American market for the car. But the biggest challenge is meeting our internal safety standards. There are big technical difficulties," said Yoshinaga.

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Nothing New here as Subaru is sticking to their game plan and Toyota is going with their game plan. Same Marketing fluff. Be interesting to see who wins as I suspect they will want both product lines to have it to reduce over all cost.

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To say we were slightly disappointed to find out that the U.S.-Spec Toyota C-HR would only come with a 2.0L four-cylinder producing 144 horsepower would be an understatement. The European-spec C-HR has the choice of either a turbocharged 1.2L four or a hybrid, but neither of these powertrains will be showing up in the U.S.
Car and Driver spoke with the C-HR's chief engineer, Hiroyuki Koba to find out why. Koba didn't say why the turbocharged 1.2L would not come to the U.S., but we're guessing Toyota didn't want to put the effort in getting this engine certified for the U.S. Also, performance numbers between the 2.0L and turbo 1.2L are similar (11 seconds for the 2.0 to hit 60 mph, 11.1 seconds for the 1.2).
As for the hybrid, Koba said the decision comes down to the market, not engineering. At the moment, Toyota doesn't see the demand for this model in the U.S.
Koba did admit there is a possibility for a more powerful version of the C-HR, but quickly added there aren't plans for this at the moment.
Source: Car and Driver

To say we were slightly disappointed to find out that the U.S.-Spec Toyota C-HR would only come with a 2.0L four-cylinder producing 144 horsepower would be an understatement. The European-spec C-HR has the choice of either a turbocharged 1.2L four or a hybrid, but neither of these powertrains will be showing up in the U.S.
Car and Driver spoke with the C-HR's chief engineer, Hiroyuki Koba to find out why. Koba didn't say why the turbocharged 1.2L would not come to the U.S., but we're guessing Toyota didn't want to put the effort in getting this engine certified for the U.S. Also, performance numbers between the 2.0L and turbo 1.2L are similar (11 seconds for the 2.0 to hit 60 mph, 11.1 seconds for the 1.2).
As for the hybrid, Koba said the decision comes down to the market, not engineering. At the moment, Toyota doesn't see the demand for this model in the U.S.
Koba did admit there is a possibility for a more powerful version of the C-HR, but quickly added there aren't plans for this at the moment.
Source: Car and Driver

Subaru Of America, Inc. Reports Record November Sales
Record November - monthly sales increase 11.4 percent over November 2015
60 consecutive months of yearly month-over-month growth
Best November ever for Outback, Crosstrek, Forester and Legacy
Best month ever for Outback
33 consecutive months of more than 10,000 Outbacks sold
40 consecutive months of more than 10,000 Foresters sold
Cherry Hill, N.J. - Subaru of America, Inc. today reported 51,308 vehicle sales for November 2016, an 11.4 percent increase over November 2015 sales of 46,070 vehicles. The company also reported year-to-date sales of 551,955 vehicles, a 4.9 percent gain over the same period in 2015.
November marked the 33rd consecutive month of 40,000+ vehicle sales for the company. Outback, Crosstrek, Forester and Legacy sales were notably strong as each carline achieved its best November ever. Increased availability of the Outback helped the model set a new monthly sales record of 17,769 units. Additionally, Outback, Legacy and Crosstrek enjoyed double digit gains over November 2015.

“November was the 60th consecutive month of yearly month-over-month sales increases, the longest streak of any automaker in the U.S.” said Thomas J. Doll, president and COO of Subaru of America, Inc. “With the arrival of the all-new 2017 Impreza, the continuation of our annual Share the Love event, and with December typically being one of the best retail sales months of the year, the Subaru franchise is in a great position to achieve its eighth consecutive all-time sales record in 2016.”
Carline
Nov-16
Nov-15
% Chg
Nov-16
Nov-15
% Chg
MTD
MTD
MTD
YTD
YTD
YTD
Forester
14,596
13,655
6.9%
160,578
158,395
1.4%
Impreza
2,032
4,924
-58.7%
50,112
60,726
-17.5%
WRX / STI
2,591
2,481
4.4%
30,341
30,645
-1.0%
Legacy
5,814
4,769
21.9%
59,346
54,688
8.5%
Outback
17,769
13,079
35.9%
162,203
136,227
19.1%
BRZ
235
376
-37.5%
3,927
4,883
-19.6%
Crosstrek
8,271
6,786
21.9%
85,448
80,837
5.7%
TOTAL
51,308
46,070
11.4%
551,955
526,401
4.9%
Moving into the final month of the year, the Subaru Share the Love event will run through January 3, 2017. Subaru of America will donate $250 for every new Subaru vehicle sold or leased to the customer's choice of the following charities: ASPCA®, Make-A-Wish, Meals On Wheels America® and National Park Foundation, or a hometown charity selected by participating Subaru retailers.

“Coming off the recent 2017 ALG Residual Value Awards, retailer traffic remains strong and we continue to attract new customers to Subaru at a record rate,” said Jeff Walters, senior vice president of sales, Subaru of America, Inc. “We're pleased that all of our carlines are receiving recognition and contributing to our ongoing success,” Walters concluded.

In November, Subaru was honored with the “Best Overall Mainstream Brand” Residual Value Award from ALG, the analytics division of TrueCar Inc. and the industry benchmark for projecting future vehicle values and depreciation data. Along with the top honor, six Subaru models earned awards in their respective segments.
Subaru Impreza – Best Compact Car
Subaru WRX – Best Sports Car
Subaru Legacy – Best Midsize Car
Subaru Forester – Best Compact Utility Vehicle
Subaru Crosstrek – Best Subcompact Utility Vehicle
Subaru Outback – Best Midsize Utility Vehicle – 2 Row
The Annual ALG Residual Value Awards honor the vehicles and brands that are expected to retain the highest percentage of their original price after a conventional three-year period. Seven award wins this year up Subaru’s overall total to twenty-five ALG Residual Value awards won since 2010. Subaru was also named Best Mainstream Brand in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015.

Toyota Motor Sales Reports November 2016 Sales
TMS posts best-ever light truck sales for the month
Highlander records all-time best-ever sales up almost 67 percent
TCUV and L/Certified by Lexus achieve best-ever annual sales record after only 11 months
TORRANCE, Calif. (December 1, 2016) – Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today reported November 2016 sales of 197,645 units, an increase of 4.3 percent from November 2015 on a volume basis. With two more selling days in November 2016 compared than November 2015, sales were down 4.1 percent on a daily selling rate (DSR) basis.

Toyota Division posted November sales of 168,595 units, up 5.3 percent on a volume basis and down 3.2 on a DSR basis.

“We expect to see the industry set a new sales record for November,” said Bill Fay, group vice president and general manager of the Toyota Division. “All-time best-ever Highlander sales combined with November best-ever RAV4 volume extends the Toyota Division’s 2016 streak of consecutive light truck sales records to 11 months.”

Lexus posted November sales of 29,050 units, down 1 percent on a volume basis and 8.9 percent on a DSR basis.

"Our luxury utility vehicles continues to lead the way, with best-ever November sales for NX and best-ever November sales for the full LUV line up," said Jeff Bracken, Lexus division group vice president and general manager. "December is always one of our strongest months of the year, and we are poised for a December to Remember as we enter the month with the best light truck availability of the whole year."

November 2016 Highlights
Corolla up almost 12 percent, posts sales of 28,262 units; records best-ever November
Camry posts November sales of 28,189 units
TMS light trucks up 14 percent; a best-ever month
Toyota Division SUV up nearly 20 percent
Highlander up almost 67 percent; posts all-time best-ever month
RAV4 posts sales of 28,116 units, up 2.7 percent; posts best-ever November
4Runner sales were up almost 14 percent
Toyota Division pickups up almost 14 percent
Tacoma up 15.3 percent
Tundra sales were up 11.5 percent
TCUV had a best-ever month and achieved its best-ever annual sales record after only 11 months
L/Certified by Lexus posts best-ever November sales; achieved its best-ever annual sales record after only 11 months
Lexus LUVs up 10.4 percent; posts best-ever November sales
NX up almost 56 percent; posts best-ever November
LX up almost 20 percent in November
IS up 16.6 percent

It has been a couple of years since we last checked out the Toyota 4Runner. Since that time, the crossover marketplace has grown even further and becoming the clear choice for many consumers. But there are still some who want/need the capability of an SUV like the 4Runner. Who should consider it?
Toyota hasn’t changed the 4Runner’s exterior since we last checked it out. This isn’t a bad thing since one of the things I liked about it was the styling. The front end still looks like it is wearing a muzzle with a large surround for the grille and chunky front bumper. Other design details to take in are a set of flared out wheel arches, hood scoop, and rear tailgate with a window that can be raised or lowered.
The interior follows the exterior with no real changes. Many materials are of the hard plastic variety which is ok considering the off-road character of the 4Runner. Having materials that can stand up to rough and tumble of off-road conditions isn’t a bad thing. The chunky knobs and simple layout of the dashboard are still here, making it easy to find certain controls when on the move.
It would be nice if Toyota could swap the 6.1-inch touchscreen for something a little bit larger. It isn’t as easy to read at a glance and more often than not, you’ll be hitting the wrong touchscreen button. At least the Entune infotainment system is simple to understand.
Space is plentiful for passengers in both rows with an abundance of head and legroom. There is the option of a third row, but it would be wise to skip it since it isn’t comfortable for most people to due to the minuscule amount of legroom.
The powertrain remains a 4.0L V6 with 270 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque, and a five-speed automatic transmission. Most trims will have the choice of either two-wheel or four-wheel drive. The TRD Pro and Trail (the model seen here) only come with four-wheel drive.
The power figures may make you believe that the 4Runner has enough grunt for the daily grind, but it falters once you take it out on the road. Around town, the V6 provides a decent amount of grunt. But where the engine falters is trying to make a pass or merging onto a freeway. It seems to make more noise than actual power in these situations. The automatic transmission provides smooth gear changes. But adding an extra gear would not be a bad thing since would drop engine rpm on the expressway and improve overall fuel economy. I got an average of 19 mpg for the week - EPA fuel economy figures stand at 17 City/21 Highway/18 Combined for 4WD models.
SUVs have made progress in terms of ride and handling, but you wouldn’t know that if you were driving a Toyota 4Runner. Take for example the ride quality. At low speeds, the 4Runner’s suspension does a good job with smoothing over bumpers. At higher speeds such as driving on a freeway, the ride becomes very bouncy. Going around a corner isn’t a pleasant experience as there is a fair amount of body lean. Steering is on the heavy and makes certain tasks such as pulling into a parking space a bit of a chore.
But the 4Runner does redeem itself when it comes to off-road driving. Sadly, we didn’t get the chance to take this 4Runner off-road which is quite a shame because the Trail adds some goodies to help when it comes to going off the beaten path. There is a locking rear differential, Crawl Control which is a low-speed cruise control system to allow the SUV go through a rocky trail, Multi-Terrain Select that alters throttle and traction control settings for various conditions, and the Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System that adjusts the suspension to allow for more wheel travel.
The Toyota 4Runner is an old-school SUV wrapped up in modern clothing. It makes no apologies for what it is and that is something I respect. This is a model that should be considered by those who want to go to special place in the woods or out in the desert on a regular basis.
If you’re not planning to go off-road on a regular basis, then the 4Runner is a poor choice. Stick with a crossover or something like a Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Disclaimer: Toyota Provided the 4Runner, Insurance, and One Tank of Gas
Year: 2016
Make: Toyota
Model: 4Runner
Trim: Trail Premium
Engine: 4.0L DOHC Dual VVT-i 24-Valve V6
Driveline: Six-Speed Automatic, 4WD
Horsepower @ RPM: 270 @ 5,600
Torque @ RPM: 278 @ 4,400
Fuel Economy: City/Highway/Combined - 17/21/18
Curb Weight: 4,750 lbs
Location of Manufacture: Tahara, Aichi, Japan
Base Price: $39,095
As Tested Price: $40,148 (Includes $900.00 Destination Charge and $750.00 'Keep it Wild' savings)
Options:
Remote Engine Start - $499.00
All Weather Mats/Cargo Tray - $200.00
Cargo Cover - $155.00
Cargo Net - $49.00